Key Points
- Effective December 1, 2025, New Zealand will tighten police clearance rules for Indian applicants.
- Only certificates issued by a Regional Passport Office will be accepted.
- Local police-issued certificates will no longer be valid.
- The rule applies only to Indian nationals residing in India.
Overview
New Zealand has revised its New Zealand Police Clearance Requirements for Indian visa applicants, effective December 1, 2025. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will no longer accept police clearance certificates issued by local police stations, Deputy Commissioners, or Superintendents of Police in India. These certificates, while previously accepted, varied in format and posed challenges for authentication.
Under the new policy, INZ will only accept police clearance certificates issued by a Regional Passport Office of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The change applies specifically to Indian nationals residing in India who are required to submit police clearance documents as part of their visa application process.
The reform does not affect Indian nationals residing outside India or non-Indian nationals who currently or previously lived in India. By centralizing issuance through Regional Passport Offices, New Zealand aims to ensure greater reliability, consistency, and security in background verification procedures.
This update reflects a wider trend in New Zealand’s immigration processes, where standardized documentation is prioritized to reduce fraud risk and improve efficiency in visa adjudication. For related updates, see Corporate Immigration Partners’ New Zealand insights.
Looking Ahead
Indian nationals applying for New Zealand visas after December 1, 2025, should obtain their police clearance directly from a Regional Passport Office to avoid delays or rejections. Employers sponsoring Indian applicants should review this requirement and adjust application timelines accordingly. Further clarifications from INZ may follow as the new rules are implemented.
